GREEN LINE REGULATION IN FORCE…PRIME MINISTER TALAT SAID REGULATION WAS INSUFFICIENT

The Green Line Regulation which would regulate the flow of the TRNC’s commercial goods to South Cyprus or from South Cyprus to EU countries has entered into force today (23 August). Following the implementation of the Regulation, TRNC Chamber of Commerce being authorized by the EU would start giving certificate of origin.

According to the statement made by the European Commission’s Representation Office in South Cyprus regarding the implementation of the Green Line Regulation, it was pointed out that goods that would flow from the TRNC to the Greek Cypriot side should be in line with EU standards and that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce would be authorized to give certificate of origin.

Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, in his former statements on the Green Line Regulation, had stated that the Regulation would not be a remedy for the TRNC’s problems. Pointing out that the Green Line Regulation was only a regulation for the flow of goods from North to South and it was wrong to amend this Regulation to comprise whole trade in the island and foreign exports, Prime Minister had expressed that unless the Free Trade Regulation was not implemented the Green Line Regulation would create some problems and would carry the whole trade to South.

Prime Minister had also stated that it was difficult to develop mutual trade as long as the Greek Cypriot side did not have good intention and said: "For example they don’t buy our onions, don’t publish Turkish Cypriot adverts even in their radical newspapers. They say they buy our goods but, their traders are afraid of buying our goods. What kind of freedom is this? This is also against the EU rules. Being non-democratic and fear has surrendered the Greek Cypriot community. They say the South is free area but, in fact it has become the captive area".

SERDAR DENKTAS’ LETTER TO PAPADOUPOULOS REGARDING SECONDARY SCHOOL TO BE OPENED IN KARPAZ

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas, in his letter sent to Greek Cypriot leader Papadoupoulos, stated that the Greek Cypriot officials were making misleading statements regarding the TRNC Council of Ministers’ decision on opening of a Greek Cypriot secondary school in Karpaz and called upon the Greek Cypriot Administration to cooperate with the Turkish Cypriots.

Sedar Denktas’ letter sent to Papadoupoulos on 20 August 2004, Friday is as follows:

"It has come to my attention through the Greek Cypriot daily Alithia of 18 August 2004 that the Greek Cypriot Minister of Education, Mr. Pefkios Georgiades has made a misleading statement regarding the opening of a Greek Cypriot secondary school at Dipkarpaz village in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). I have, therefore, deemed it necessary to write to you and to bring the following to your kind attention.

Mr. Georgiades’ statement to the effect that the renovation of the said school and the procurement of necessary school supplies are being financed by the Greek Cypriot authorities is untrue and totally unacceptable to the Turkish Cypriot Government. The TRNC Ministry of Education and Culture has been authorized to start and complete all the necessary preparations including the renovation and refurbishment of the said secondary school with a view of opening it for education at the beginning of 2004-2005 academic year.

Mr. Georgiades has also reportedly stated that the list of the Greek Cypriot teachers who would be teaching at the said school has been submitted to the Turkish Cypriot authorities. I would like to underline the fact that apart from an unofficial list containing the names and photography of teachers, which can only be considered as preliminary, no formal application has been submitted to our authorities. Therefore, we expect your relevant authorities to formally inform us of the proposed list of teachers. As you no doubt appreciate that in the absence of a proper application, difficulties may be encountered in finalizing the procedures and teachers assuming their duties on time.